Paperboard bottle carrier having full depth transverse partitions



R. M. BERGSTEIN 2,709,535 PAPERBOARD BOTTLE CARRIER HAVING FULL DEPTH TRANSVERSE PARTITIONS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 1, 1952 NVENTOR.

w a f E j M r m w ATTORNEYS.

my 31, 1955 R. M. BERGSTEIN 2,709,535 PAPERBOARD BOTTLE CARRIER HAVING FULL DEPTH TRANSVERSE PARTITIONS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 1, 1952 INVENTOR. fUBERT M 551963 751M.

A T 0 R N EY-S.

BERGSTEIN 2,709,535 LE CARRIER HAVING FULL. DEPTH TRANSVERSE PARTITIONS ay 31", 1955 R. M.

PAPERBOARD BOTT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 1, 1952 INVENTOR. f F0 ATTORNEYS.

PAPEREQARD BGT'ILE CARRIER HAVING FULL DEPTH TRANSVERSE PARTITIONS Application November 1, 1952, Serial No. 318,240

6 Claims. (Cl. 220-413) My invention relates to bottle carriers, particularly to paperboard bottle carriers of the class adapted for the packaging and transportation of a plurality of bottles or containers.

In my copending application Serial No. 273,896, filed February 23, i952 and entitled Fully Partitioned Collapsible Bottle Carrier, l have taught the provision of a knock-down or flat-folding carrier having an internal partition structure to effectively divide and separate the bottles from each other. The internal partition structure comprises a full depth partition element extending longitudinally of the carton so as to divide the bottles or containers placed therein into two rows; and transverse partition elements are provided, extending between the side walls and the central longitudinal partition element, to separate the bottles in each row. The transverse partition elements are formed as strap-like elements integrally connected to the top edges of the side Wall panels and extending inwardly to the center partition panel. The transverse partition elements are not of full depth, and hence the bottles in each row, while eliectively separated, are not isolated from contact with each other, particularly when the carrier is in use.

While the carrier taught in my copending application is suitable for most uses, there are those bottlers who require that the carrier be fully partitioned both longitudinally and transversely, so that each bottle is, in cfect, completely shielded from contact with adjacent bottles in the carrier. in the past, various types of inserts have been provided where full depth transverse partitions are required; but these have been generally unsatisfactory due to the additional cost of the inserts as well as the labor involved in associating them with the carriers. Furthermore, where such inserts are employed, the knock-down character of the carriers is destroyed, and the carriers can not be collapsed Without first removing the inserts. This, of course, is an inconvenience to the user.

It is, therefore, a principal object of my invention to provide a collapsible bottle carrier which includes a full depth or substantially full depth transverse partition elements.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a bottle carrier having substantially full depth transverse partition elements wherein the partition elements are formed as an integral part of the carton blank, and wherein the partition elements are formed from parts of the blank which would be otherwise scrapped-out and thrown away, thereby enabling the manufacturer to provide a carrier having fully partitioned transverse partition elements at no additional expense over a carton without such partition elements.

Still a further object of my invention is the provision of a collapsible paperboard bottle carrier having transverse partition elements extending upwardly from the bottom of the carrier, which partition elements may be easily erected if so desired or may be permitted to Q States Patent ice remain in the knocked-down condition without interfering with the normal use of the carrier.

Still a further object of my invention is the provision oi a collapsible bottle carrier wherein the transverse partition elements thereof, when erected, serve to maintain the carrier parts in the fully erected condition.

These and other objects of my invention which will ar hereinafter, or which will be apparent to the skilled worker in the art upon reading these specifications, 1 accomplish by that construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now describe an exemplary embodiment.

Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein:

Fi ure l is a plan view of the blank for my carrier.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the blank illustrated in Figure l with certain of the parts in infolded condition.

Figure 3 is a partial plan view of the blank illustrated in Figure 2 wi h additional parts thereof infolded.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the blank. illustrated in Figure 3 in knocked-down or fiat-folded condition.

Figure 5 is an elevational view with parts broken away of the carrier in the erected condition, but with the transverse partition elements lying along the bottom thereof. The figure also illustrates a jig suitable for use in erecting the transverse partition elements.

Figure 6 is a partial elevational view similar to Figure 5 illustrating the transverse partition elements in the ere ted condition.

l gure '7 is a sectional view taken along the lines I -7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an end elevational view of the erected carrier structure seen in Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a sectional View taken along the lines of Figure 6.

Fi ure ll) is a perspective view with parts broken away of the fully erected carrier with the transverse partition elements in the erected condition.

Figure 11 is a partial plan view of a modified blank for my carrier construction.

Figure 12 is a partial perspective view with parts broken away of a carrier constructed from the modified blank illustrated in Figure 11.

Referring now to Figure l of the drawings, the blank for my carrier is formed from a sheet of suitable boxboard or paperboard cut and scored to provide a bottom panel 1 divided in half by medial score line 2.

Side wall panels 3 and i are articulated to the opposite side edges of the bottom panel, and partial end wall panels 5, d, 7 and 8 are articulated to the opposite side edges the side wall panels. Attachment 9, iii, and 12''. are connected to the free edges of the 1 wall panels 5, 6, 7, and 8, respectively, in tanner illustrated.

Handle forming parts and l-t are provided, and the handle forming parts are connected to the side walls by means of strapdike partition elements 15, 16, i7 and 13 which articulated ooth to the handle forming parts and to the side wall panels. A center partition and handle forming part 19 is articulated to the upper edge of handle terrain part l3, and a hand hole opening Zia is provided in the center partition part 19 adapted to mate with the hand hole openings and 22 in the handle llBVEllSfi partition elements is.) and are articulated to the opposite ends of bottom panel 1 along the lines for severance 25 and 2d. The transverse partition elements have glue flaps 27 and 2t? articulated to the outer edges ti ereof along the lines of articulation 29 and 3%, respectively, and the transverse partition elements and glue flaps are divided medially by score lines 31 and 32, which constitute prolongations of the medial score line 2 in the bottom panel. The transverse partition elements 23 and 24 are also provided with slots 33 and 34 lying along the medial score lines 31 and 32 adjacent the lines for severance 25 and 26. In addition, the free edge of center partition and handle forming part 19 is provided with spaced apart cuts 35 which are adapted, in the fully erected carrier, to be engaged by the slots 33 and 34.

The configuration of the carrier blank is such that pairs of the blanks may be nested with respect to each other by placing them end to end with the extending central partition panels parallel to each other, for the utmost possible conservation of boxboard. Furthermore, it will be evident from the blank just described that the transverse partition elements 23 and 24 are formed from areas of board which would ordinarily be scrapped-out and thrown away or returned to the board mill.

The blank just described is assembled into a flab folded or knocked-down carrier structure by iirst infolding the parts to the position illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. to the attachment flaps 27 and 23, as indicated by the shaded areas in Figure l of the drawings, whereupon the transverse partition elements 23 and 24 are infolded so as to bring the attachment flaps 27 and 23 into adhesive engagement with bottom panel 1. The attachment flaps 9 and 11 are also infolded to the position illustrated in Figure 2, as are partial end wall panels 6 and 8. Adhesive is next applied to the exposed surfaces of at tachment flaps 9 and 1b, the adhesive being indicated by the shaded areas in Figure 2, whereupon the center n or,

partition and handle forming part 19 is infolded so as to bring opposite edge portions thereof into adhesive engagernent with the attachment flaps 9 and it). This brings the parts to the condition illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, whereupon adhesive is applied to the r" attachment flaps l1 and 12 in the manner again illustrated in Figure 2, whereupon the blank is folded along the medial score line 2 in the bottom panel to bring the glue flaps 11 and 12 into adhesive engagement with edge portions of center partition and handle forming part 19. The carrier thus assumes the condition illustrated in Figure 4, which is the knocked-down or fiat-folded condition of the carrier in which it is ready for shipment to the user.

In the knocked-down condition of the carrier, it will be noted that the transverse partition elements 23 and 2% lie along bottom panel 1, the medial score lines 31 and 32 in the transverse partition elements coinciding with medial score line 2 in the bottom wall panel, with all of the parts folded along the said medial score line. The carrier is erected by applying inwardly directed pressure against opposite ends of the structure. This causes the side walls to swing outwardly away from the center partition panel, carrying the strap-like partition elements with them, the strap-like partition elements pivoting about the score lines along which they are articulated to hot the side walls and the handle forming parts. The carrier thus assumes the erected condition, as seen in Figure 5. In this condition, the transverse partition elements 23 and 24 lie along the bottom panel 1 and, if desired, the carrier may be used as is, without erecting the transverse partition elements. Since the transverse partition elements lie along the bottom panel, they will in no way interfere with the normal use of the carrier.

Where it is desired to erect the transverse partition elements to fully partition the structure, the transverse partition elements are pressed upwardly through openings 36 in the bottom of the carrier. To this end, a jig To this end, adhesive is first applied a 37 is provided, the jig having upstanding pins or lugs 35$ positioned so as to extend upwardly through the openings 36 when the carrier is placed in the jig. Suitable side guides 39 may be provided on the jig to assure proper registry of the carrier with the pins 38. -As the carrier is brought down upon the jig, or the jig moved upwardly relative to the carrier, the pins 33 will extend upwardly through the openings 36 and contact the transverse partition elements 23 and 24. It will be noted that the pins are arranged to contact the partition eleient intermediate the lines for severance 25 and 26 and the lines of articulation 29 and 30 lying between the transverse partition elements and their glue flaps. The up ward pressure against the transverse partition elements caused by the pins will cause the transverse partition elements to break away from the bottom panel 1 along the aforementioned lines for severance 25 and 26, and the transverse partition elements will swing upwardly about the lines of articulation 29 and 30. The jig thus causes the transverse partition elements to assume the condition illustrated in Figure 6, wherein it will be noted that the'slots 33 and 34 of the transverse partition elements engage in the cuts 35 in the center partition and handle forming part 19. It will be noted that the score lines 29 and 30 are in substantially vertical alignment with the cuts 35. The transverse partition elements are, of course, securely fastened to the bottom panel 1 by means of the glue flaps 27 and 28, as will be evident from the drawings.

As will be evident from Figure 10 of the drawings, the transverse partition elements may or may not be of a length such that they will contact the strap-like elements 17 and 18. Whether they do or not will depend upon the height of the side walls 3 and 4. However, irrespective of whether the transverse partitions 23 and 24 come in actual contact with the strap-like partition elements, it will be evident that the transverse partition elements will have a height suflicient to eiiectively partition the carton transversely and prevent contact between adjacent bottles.

Referring now to Figures ll and 12 of the drawings, wherein I have illustrated a modification of the carton structure just described, the transverse partition elements 23 and 24 are provided with projecting tongues 40 on the opposite ends thereof adjacent the lines for severance 25 and 26. These tongues, in the erected carrier, are adapted to engage slots 41 in the carrier side walls. I have found that this arrangement is particularly advantageous where the transverse partition elements are of a size such that they will not come in contact with the strap-like partition elements in the erected structure. As will be evident from the drawings, the slots 41 are in vertical alignment with the strap-like partition elements and with the lines of cut 35 for receiving the transverse partition elements when they are erected, and the slots will be engaged by the projecting tongues 40 to securely hold the transverse partition elements in the erected condition.

Modifications may, of course, be made in my invention without departing from the spirit of it. For example, while I have indicated that the transverse partition elements will serve, when erected, to maintain the entire carrier structure in the erected condition, it is within the spirit of my invention to provide mating tongue elements 42 on the bottom ends of the attachment flaps 1t) and 12 for engagement with a slot 43 at one end of the medial score line 2 in bottom panel 1. While the provision of such tongue slot arrangement is not necessary where the transverse partition elements are erected, it will be of utility where the user elects to use the carrier without erecting the transverse partition elements. Of course, even where the transverse partition elements are erected, the tongue and slot arrangement just described will serve as a supplementary locking means assuring even greater rigidity of the carrier in the erected condition.

' Having thus described my invention in an exemplary embodiment, what I claim as new and desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a paperboard bottle carrier including a bottom panel and a central longitudinal partition panel, transverse partition elements overlying said bottom'panel and extending inwardly from the opposite end edges thereof, said transverse partition elements being detachably secured to the ends of said bottom panel along lines for severance, glue flaps articulated to the innermost end edges of said transverse partition elements, said glue flaps being secured to said bottom panel intermediate the ends thereof, a medial score line in said bottom panel, medial score lines in said transverse partition elements and said glue flaps in prolongation of the medial score line in said bottom panel, and slots in said transverse partition elements extending inwardly from said lines for severance along said medial score lines for contact with said center partition panel when said transverse partition elements are erected relative to said bottom panel.

2. In a paperboard bottle carrier including a bottom panel and a central longitudinal partition panel, transverse partition elements overlying said bottom panel and extending inwardly from the opposite end edges thereof, said transverse partition elements being detachably secured to the ends of said bottom panel along lines for severance, glue flaps articulated to the innermost end edges of said transverse partition elements, said glue flaps being secured to said bottom panel intermediate the ends thereof, a medial score line in said bottom panel, medial score lines in said transverse partition element and said glue flaps in prolongation of the medial score line in said bottom panel, slots in said transverse partition elements extending inwardly from said lines for severance along said medial score lines, and slots in said central partition panel extending inwardly from the bottom edge thereof for engagement with the slots in said transverse partition elements upon erection of said transverse partition elements relative to said bottom panel.

3. In a paperboard bottle carrier including a bottom panel and a central longitudinal partition panel, transverse partition elements overlying said bottom panel and extending inwardly from the opposite end edges thereof,

said transverse partition elements being detachably secured to the ends of said bottom panel along lines for severance, glue flaps articulated to the innermost edges of said transverse partition elements, said glue flaps being secured to said bottom panel intermediate the ends thereof, and slots in said transverse partition elements extending inwardly from said lines for severance for contact with said center partition panel when said transverse partition elements are erected relative to said bottom panel.

4. In a paperboard bottle carrier including a bottom panel and a central longitudinal partition panel, transverse partition elements overlying said bottom panel and extending inwardly from the opposite end edges thereof, said transverse partition elements being detachably secured to the ends of said bottom panel along lines for severance, glue flaps articulated to the innermost edges of said transverse partition elements, said glue flaps being secured to said bottom panel intermediate the ends thereof, slots in said transverse partition elements extending inwardly from said lines for severance, and mating slots in said central partition panel extending upwardly from the bottom edge thereof for engagement with the slots in said transverse partition elements upon erection of said transverse partition elements relative to said bottom panel.

5. In a paperboard bottle carrier including a bottom panel and a central longitudinal partition panel, transverse partition elements overlying said bottom panel and extending inwardly from the opposite end edges thereof, said transverse partition elements being detachably secured to the ends of said bottom panel along lines for severance, glue flaps articulated to the innermost end edges of said transverse partition elements, said glue flaps being secured to said bottom panel intermediate the ends thereof, a medial score line in said bottom panel, medial score lines in said transverse partition elements and said glue flaps coinciding with the medial score line in said bottom panel, slots in said transverse partition elements extending inwardly from said lines for severance along said medial score lines for contact with said center partition panel, and openings at predetermined areas in said bottom panel, whereby said transverse partition elements may be raised into operative position by pressure applied through said openings.

6. In a paperboard bottle carrier including a bottom panel and a central longitudinal partition panel, transverse partition elements overlying said bottom panel and extending inwardly from the opposite end edges thereof, said transverse partition elements being detachably secured to the ends of said bottom panel along lines for severance, glue flaps articulated to the innermost edges of said transverse partition elements, said glue flaps being secured to said bottom panel intermediate the ends thereof, a medial score line in said bottom panel, medial score lines in said transverse partition element and said glue flap coinciding with the medial score line in said bottom panel, slots in said transverse partition elements extending inwardly from said lines for severance along said medial score lines, mating slots in said central partition panel extending upwardly from the bottom edge thereof for engagement with the slots in said transverse partition elements, and openings at predetermined areas in said bottom panel, whereby said transverse partition elements may be raised into operative position by pressure applied through said openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,326,244 Moore Aug. 10, 1943 2,351,528 Lupton June 13, 1944 2,442,699 Locke June 1, 1948 2,458,281 Lupton Jan. 4, 1949 2,574,461 Bolding Nov. 13, 1951 

